2.55 Main Scenario Requirement.

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Originally Posted by Hakuro89

I respectfully and firmly disagree. I remember when I was leveling up my first 50, the biggest annoyance I had was not leveling up fast enough to keep up with the story. When I'm engrossed in story and have to stop and go do some grinding for a while just so I can keep up with it is a little disappointing. I'd rather be a few levels ahead than behind.

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This is where I'm at too. Right now at level 42 or so, I need 360k xp to level and you get at best 4-5 story quests that are worth 11k each. Plus story mode can have some very sluggish feeling quests and the amount of backtracking is crazy.

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Originally Posted by TheEnygma

This is where I'm at too. Right now at level 42 or so, I need 360k xp to level and you get at best 4-5 story quests that are worth 11k each. Plus story mode can have some very sluggish feeling quests and the amount of backtracking is crazy.

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If you haven't done any Guildhests yet I would suggest doing some of those, que times usually aren't quite as long as dungeon trials and you'll need to have up to the lvl 30 ones unlocked for the main story a little ways into the post 2.0 part. Fates as well can help out, leves, more so if you have your challenge log. Guildhests give 5% and 10% each for completing the challenges, and fates and leves give a straight 15% on each one.

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Originally Posted by Luciun

It is on the same continent, but a separate "country"/"city-state", however you wish to see it, as it were. So what I said still remains true. There is no reason for those jobs to start in Eorzea. Their purpose is in Ishgard as far as we know. Ishgardians are stingy with their stuff.

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The other cities are also separate "country/city-state"

Eorzea is Aldenard + Vylbrand. And Ishgard was already part of the Eorzea Alliance before the battle of the Silvertear Lake (they left the alliance after the battle).
So, even if the jobs start within Ishgard, it is still in Eorzea.

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Originally Posted by SDaemon

How much time in those 6 days did you spend trying to clear it?

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I succeded at my 12th attempt (2/day), and most of those fell apart after 1 wipe - either people leaving or demading to be kicked. And I'm not counting the ones where the group disbanded before we even got started.

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Originally Posted by Luciun

It is on the same continent, but a separate "country"/"city-state", however you wish to see it, as it were. So what I said still remains true. There is no reason for those jobs to start in Eorzea. Their purpose is in Ishgard as far as we know. Ishgardians are stingy with their stuff.

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Ishgard is a part of Eorzea and is a city-state just like Gridania, Limsa Lominsa, and Uldah. It is just not part of the 'alliance'. So your use of words that distinguish it on the level of Eorzea is incorrect. All jobs start in Eorzea, just in different city-states.

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Originally Posted by TheEnygma

This is where I'm at too. Right now at level 42 or so, I need 360k xp to level and you get at best 4-5 story quests that are worth 11k each. Plus story mode can have some very sluggish feeling quests and the amount of backtracking is crazy.

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Do a daily low level roulette to help with the xp. You get a decent amount for completing this once a day. That will help alot with your xp grind. Also don't forget your hunting log. I levelled up pretty quick using those. :)

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Originally Posted by Dualblade

If you haven't done any Guildhests yet I would suggest doing some of those, que times usually aren't quite as long as dungeon trials and you'll need to have up to the lvl 30 ones unlocked for the main story a little ways into the post 2.0 part. Fates as well can help out, leves, more so if you have your challenge log. Guildhests give 5% and 10% each for completing the challenges, and fates and leves give a straight 15% on each one.

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Also Leves won't interrupt the queue. At most, you'll only lose 1 allowance if the dungeon pops. So you can pretty much spam them as you wait for it. In addition, complete your hunting log.

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Originally Posted by TheEnygma

This is where I'm at too. Right now at level 42 or so, I need 360k xp to level and you get at best 4-5 story quests that are worth 11k each. Plus story mode can have some very sluggish feeling quests and the amount of backtracking is crazy.

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You might have access to the daily beastmen quests for EXP.

As a challenge I've tried leveling an account just doing the MSQ and not any extra quests. So far, I've gotten it to level 24 just doing the most bare bones story - you'd be amazed how much doing things like the guildhests as they pop can help. I'm right on track for level too - about to unlock Toto Rak.

I thought only Ishgard had restricted access? I'm pretty sure you can just go to the new zones on foot if you wanted to. (Floating continents are different of course lol)

And I think it's pretty cool that they catered to people who care about story. This is one of the few story-driven mmos, and if you care and like the story, then you're surely to enjoy what 2.1-2.5 has to offer. If you don't, then you just have to accept that it does for other people.

While 3.0 is linked to 2.0 to 2.X, I wouldn't mind if SE one day made a future X.0 Main Story a stand alone storyline.

As interesting as the whole Warrior of Light, Oh mighty Savior, Chosen One, Champion of the Just, and etc. titles is pushed on us, a Main Storyline that focus on our character being actual adventurers would be nice for once.

They could alter some dialogues for this stand alone X.0 Main Storyline based on if we performed 2.0 to X.0, or how far we reached through 2.0 to X.0, like they did with the Legacy players in 2.0.

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Originally Posted by Calis

And I think it's pretty cool that they catered to people who care about story. This is one of the few story-driven mmos, and if you care and like the story, then you're surely to enjoy what 2.1-2.5 has to offer. If you don't, you can skip all the cutscenes, rush through all the content and be done with all that in about 6 hours or so.

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Fix'd.

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@Ontopic, not related to this quote above.

Yoshi-p stated this "condition" several weeks ago. People had/have enough time to catch up. Returning players had/have enough time to come back and catch up. New players had/have enough time to buy the game and run through all that content and catch up. The only thing that is actually locked, it's the jobs, and I understand that concern. However, these will start at level 30. So, even if they weren't locked, you might still need to create a pre-expac job and level it up to level 30 before you could use it. That's 20 levels of difference only, which can be attained real quick.

All the content post-expact is intended for level 50+ characters, so new players won't be able to get there even if everything was available at launch without the 2.0 story completion pre-requisite. Existing players can just play the game and either enjoy the story or rush through it. The expansion is not an "alternative game", it's a continuation of the existing game. Being this game a story-driven MMO, it super makes sense that you have to complete the main-story in order to progress. As you cannot beat either Shiva, Ramuh or do Steps of Faith if you don't do the MSQ. What's the problem with that? Somebody grinded his classes up to level 50 by doing FATEs? Damn, I envy that non-existing expert/high level/trial/story roulette or these dungeons which may be requiered for certain quest (think, future relic questlines).

Instead of just complaining about it, just go and finish the MSQ so you're ready for Heavensward. You have 1 month and 13 days left. Even the most casuals of the player should be able to catch up at this point of time.

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Originally Posted by Cyrus-Wallace

Fix'd.
Yoshi-p stated this "condition" several weeks ago. People had/have enough time to catch up. Returning players had/have enough time to come back and catch up. New players had/have enough time to buy the game and run through all that content and catch up.

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Ok, so what about new players a month from now? You didnt really think that through, did you?

If you're so worried for new players (who don't exist yet) getting access to HW content - help them out. Make yourself available to them - why are you on the forum complaining about a non-existant problem you as a veteran can fix? Seriously it's an MMO - be social, be helpful.

It doesn't hurt all that bad I promise.

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Originally Posted by Rendecrow

Ok, so what about new players a month from now? You didnt really think that through, did you?

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New players would not have done anything game wise and thus would have alot to catch up on anyways, if not being able to play the three new jobs immediatly/the moment they get to level 30 is that big a break they probably don't care quite that much about other factors as well (Story for example) and indeed the game might not be for them. As well they will certainly be able to level still even after completing the 2.0 story if they have Heavensward and most likely will be around lvl 53 by the time Steps comes in, which even if they don't do any nerfs will still make things a bit easier on them.

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Originally Posted by Dhex

If you're so worried for new players (who don't exist yet) getting access to HW content - help them out. Make yourself available to them - why are you on the forum complaining about a non-existant problem you as a veteran can fix? Seriously it's an MMO - be social, be helpful.

It doesn't hurt all that bad I promise.

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This as well, as it is right now we do not know what/if there will be a problem (partly because we aren't too the xpac yet, partly because we don't know if 2.57 will do some nerfs to the biggest wall currently), but even if it is nerfed nothing is stopping you or any of us from going out and helping out newbies except what we feel like doing.

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Originally Posted by Rendecrow

Its simple. Let the 51+ zones be accessible to everyone.

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Have you read the story?

This thread lol. This is a story focused mmo. Time to learn to deal with it or find a less story focused game. I know people who hit 50 two weeks ago and finished all the extended story in less than a week. This thread just seems like a giant whine fest to justify being too lazy to just play the game.

Easy solution to the gating problem / leveling up problem. Cut down on the filler "fetch" quests in the MSQ. You will still have the mandatory story dungeons. the only other solution is to continue as it is currently and only offer quest rewards and gil for completing MSQ. If you do not, then no matter what happens a new player trying to catch up to the current content will be over level for all of the 51+ quests, unless the Xp required to go from 50 to 51 is insanely high.

As it stands though, I expect from the length of time that this has been in development, that SE has probably thought of this already and has plans in place already to make it keep in line with normal character progression. All we can really do at this point is wait and see. Then judge based on what is actually put in place.

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Originally Posted by Rendecrow

You really don't get it. This is not about the game being easier. This is about a smooth leveling transition from level 50 to 51 for new players. Right now there are to many level 50 quests in the main Scenario and it won't be a smooth leveling experience for new players. New players are going to feel held back when they are hitting levels 53 to 54 and still on level 50 content. That is the problem.

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no new players are gonna be enjoying a new game they havent tried b4.. not O NO I CANT GET DARK KNIGHT RIGHT AWAY!!!!!! seriously topics like these are so old nows ._.

Only time consuming factor of the 2.0-2.55 MS I can see is all of the duties/trials you have to do, they're dated content and the queues can be quite long, especially on dps. However devs have already hinted at a way to alleviate this, they mention in a live letter that when 3.0 goes live, you'll be able to do 2.0 duties/trials with parties that are smaller than currently required.

Honostly though, lvling up and doing the story isn't that time consuming in the scope of MMOs. I consider myself fairly casual, and I watched every cutscene, yet it only took me 23 days to beat the 2.0 storyline, and about one day to beat each of the 2.X stories. If someone really wants to rush into HW, I wouldn't be surprised if they could do it in roughly 2 weeks.

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Originally Posted by Rendecrow

Ok, so what about new players a month from now? You didnt really think that through, did you?

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You stopped reading there?

So many people are so quick to claim that it is not a balance and smooth leveling issue, but when I look at the numbers they look like this:

Levels 1 to 49: Approximately 1.4% story quests per level on average.

Level 50: Approximately 30% story quests.

Tell me again how this is not a balance issue? I like the story, but even I can see an issue with having the bulk of the story quests crammed into one level. You want people to do the story? Fine, but they need to spread it out more over a few more levels. Everything at 50 is a problem when the expansion comes out and the level cap is 60.

Im confused why people are assuming you cant do ANY heavensward content without finishing 2.55. The way I understand it is you cant do the heavenwards main story without doing 2.55. Thats not including access to some new zones and tons of sidequests that are unrelated to main story. This is not new either, I've played several MMO expansions that let you access new areas through a small sidequest or an intro quest but obviously cannot progress in the main story if you havent reached a certain requirement. FFXI had done this with RoZ, CoP, and ToAU. I could go unlock blue mage, as a newer character without completing main story even though the quest is in an expansion area.

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Originally Posted by Rendecrow

Ok, so what about new players a month from now? You didnt really think that through, did you?

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Fine lets do this give the option of having new players start at level 50 and not have to do the 2.0 main story.
BUT they can't do any of the old 2.0 content that means no primals ex primals Coil achievements anything relating to a 2.0 story quest or dungeon. Then we will sit back and watch the chaos unfold because the really new players won't have any idea what they doing. Then we will realize that the requirement is a good idea because bots will be flooding in as level 50 black mages.

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Originally Posted by Rendecrow

Well that's just a dumb comment. If you have read any of this thread I think I made it very clear that the 2.0 story is fine and that the issue is the pacing of 2.55 as a LOT is crammed into level 50.

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Oh ok so the gap ok sorry but I still don't see that big a deal with it.

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Originally Posted by Rendecrow

So many people are so quick to claim that it is not a balance and smooth leveling issue, but when I look at the numbers they look like this:

Levels 1 to 49: Approximately 1.4% story quests per level on average.

Level 50: Approximately 30% story quests.

Tell me again how this is not a balance issue? I like the story, but even I can see an issue with having the bulk of the story quests crammed into one level. You want people to do the story? Fine, but they need to spread it out more over a few more levels. Everything at 50 is a problem when the expansion comes out and the level cap is 60.

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Your probably going to see the same story quest density post 50 anyway. 1 level will effectively count as 5 past 50 as far as story goes. They are basically talking about 50 to 60 taking roughly the same length of time that 1 to 50 took.

Lets not kid ourselves. The post 50 content will be gated by story progression in exactly the same way as the pre 50 content was. Even if players could go straight to Ishgard they will be able to do little beyond FATE grinding. Likely they wouldn't even have access to flying. This is how the entire game has been structured from level 1.

Add to that there is no simple way you can set things up so players can transition between 2.0's end story and 3.0's beginning without there being massive amounts that make no sense.

Your making this sound like its a far more torturous process than it actually is. I had a new player in my free company that cleared the entire patch story in two days and that was with dps queues and starting the relic quest at the same time. The only issue I can possibly see is one of gear and I suspect that can easily be solved through MS quest rewards giving upgrades or lowering the numbers on the patch dungeons so such a high ilvl isn't required.

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Originally Posted by Dererk

Fine lets do this give the option of having new players start at level 50 and not have to do the 2.0 main story.
BUT they can't do any of the old 2.0 content that means no primals ex primals Coil achievements anything relating to a 2.0 story quest or dungeon.

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Well that's just a dumb comment. If you have read any of this thread I think I made it very clear that the 2.0 story is fine and that the issue is the pacing of 2.55 as a LOT is crammed into level 50.

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Originally Posted by Peachy

Im confused why people are assuming you cant do ANY heavensward content without finishing 2.55. The way I understand it is you cant do the heavenwards main story without doing 2.55. Thats not including access to some new zones and tons of sidequests that are unrelated to main story. This is not new either, I've played several MMO expansions that let you access new areas through a small sidequest or an intro quest but obviously cannot progress in the main story if you havent reached a certain requirement. FFXI had done this with RoZ, CoP, and ToAU. I could go unlock blue mage, as a newer character without completing main story even though the quest is in an expansion area.

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Square pretty much said you won't have access to Ishgard until you cleared all of 2.0. From a logical standpoint, it makes no sense for the player who hasn't progressed in 2.0's story to be allowed into a city or areas that is still closed off to them in their current story.

The "story" in this game is pretty bad honestly. I understand a lot of you think everyone should play RPGs the way you want it to be played, but there are people out there paying subscription fees to help improve this game that you like who don't /want/ to listen to the story.

Of the ~30 people or so who I am well acquainted with in this game, 1 or 2 don't click through all of the flat and boring writing while doing the MSQ in this game.

Some of us just want to punch dragons, and this is the best game to do it in. Why does it bother you that we don't care about your story? We let you do you, so let us do us.

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Originally Posted by Stjevne

The "story" in this game is pretty bad honestly. I understand a lot of you think everyone should play RPGs the way you want it to be played, but there are people out there paying subscription fees to help improve this game that you like who don't /want/ to listen to the story.

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This is all well and good, it's within your right to skip all the cutscenes and not care about the story. However, because of the events that do happen in the story that you're skipping, it would be literally impossible for us to access Ishgard before the final events of 2.55. I can see some of the Coerthas areas opening up if you don't need to go through Ishgard first, but Dravania and Ishgard are probably off limits due to... y'know, the plot.

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Originally Posted by MilesSaintboroguh

Square pretty much said you won't have access to Ishgard until you cleared all of 2.0. From a logical standpoint, it makes no sense for the player who hasn't progressed in 2.0's story to be allowed into a city or areas that is still closed off to them in their current story.

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And ishgard is not the only zone to be added, and you dont know where the new job quests will be placed. There is precedent for this already. There will most likely be areas you can simply walk into without ANY requirement.

Im not implying it will be different but you guys dont know for sure either is the point. I agree you cant enter Ishgard right off, but nothing is saying the rest of the expansion is gated, Im guessing its some dungeons, MSQ, Ishgard. Just like some dungeons are gated behind 2.0 story and some are simply side quests.

Gating the entire expansion behind 2.55 is just bad business (people buying the game based on heavensward, then not being able to play it) and I dont believe SE will do it. New players will want to try out Au Ra and the jobs as well. Getting to 30 is much easier then 50 and all MSQ.

So if you can start the game as an Au Ra then its safe to assume not every bit of content is gated behind 2.55

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Originally Posted by SpookyGhost

This is all well and good, it's within your right to skip all the cutscenes and not care about the story. However, because of the events that do happen in the story that you're skipping, it would be literally impossible for us to access Ishgard before the final events of 2.55. I can see some of the Coerthas areas opening up if you don't need to go through Ishgard first, but Dravania and Ishgard are probably off limits due to... y'know, the plot.

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There is a big difference between the "plot" and what is practical for the players. For instance if you really wanted to make everything realistic then every time you die you should reroll a new toon. Also we have teleportation everywhere but in the "plot" characters constantly talk about travel time? Makes no sense. Just some food for thought....

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Originally Posted by Stjevne

The "story" in this game is pretty bad honestly. I understand a lot of you think everyone should play RPGs the way you want it to be played, but there are people out there paying subscription fees to help improve this game that you like who don't /want/ to listen to the story.

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That's entirely subjective. You're entitled to your opinion, and I'm entitled to completely disagree.

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Originally Posted by Belhi

Your probably going to see the same story quest density post 50 anyway. 1 level will effectively count as 5 past 50 as far as story goes. They are basically talking about 50 to 60 taking roughly the same length of time that 1 to 50 took.

Lets not kid ourselves. The post 50 content will be gated by story progression in exactly the same way as the pre 50 content was. Even if players could go straight to Ishgard they will be able to do little beyond FATE grinding. Likely they wouldn't even have access to flying. This is how the entire game has been structured from level 1.

Add to that there is no simple way you can set things up so players can transition between 2.0's end story and 3.0's beginning without there being massive amounts that make no sense.

Your making this sound like its a far more torturous process than it actually is. I had a new player in my free company that cleared the entire patch story in two days and that was with dps queues and starting the relic quest at the same time. The only issue I can possibly see is one of gear and I suspect that can easily be solved through MS quest rewards giving upgrades or lowering the numbers on the patch dungeons so such a high ilvl isn't required.

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Don't even bother. Myself and several others have posted explaining these same points multiple time and Rendercrow just ignores them. He even tried to shut the thread down earlier because everyone disagreed with him. The only people he responds to are either those that agree in some way or those that he can insult. He isn't actually trying to hold a debate on the issue at all.

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Originally Posted by Peachy

And ishgard is not the only zone to be added, and you dont know where the new job quests will be placed. There is precedent for this already. There will most likely be areas you can simply walk into without ANY requirement.

Im not implying it will be different but you guys dont know for sure either is the point. I agree you cant enter Ishgard right off, but nothing is saying the rest of the expansion is gated, Im guessing its some dungeons, MSQ, Ishgard. Just like some dungeons are gated behind 2.0 story and some are simply side quests.

Gating the entire expansion behind 2.55 is just bad business (people buying the game based on heavensward, then not being able to play it) and I dont believe SE will do it. New players will want to try out Au Ra and the jobs as well. Getting to 30 is much easier then 50 and all MSQ.

So if you can start the game as an Au Ra then its safe to assume not every bit of content is gated behind 2.55

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Unfortunately Yoshi confirmed in a live letter that yes, all the new jobs are unlocked in the city of Ishgard itself. The Au'Ra will not require any content completion though; if you have the expansion registered you can create one regardless.

What we know of the situation is this: the city of Ishgard is gated behind story completion. It's been implied that all of the expansion's zones are gated behind Ishgard but you're right, it's entirely possible that some are accessible from existing areas, we don't actually have any confirmation on this one. The problem is though, even if a player can access these areas prior to completion of the 2.55 story quests they won't be able to do much there due to the dungeons and flying being gated behind the 3.0 main scenario quests. The onyl thing they'll be able to do is grind fates on whatever small sections of the map are accessible without a flying mount.

This is what people are trying to explain to the OP. The way content gating and character progression is designed in this game has everything tied into the main story. Allowing players to skip any previous main story quests would leave them without access to important gameplay features and content. Allowing them access to 3.0 areas without having the 3.0 main story quests available would leave them unable to progress in those areas. Even if the OP's suggestion were implemented in some fashion, new players would STILL have to complete all of the story quests anyway in order to unlock access to other things.

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Originally Posted by Stjevne

The "story" in this game is pretty bad honestly. I understand a lot of you think everyone should play RPGs the way you want it to be played, but there are people out there paying subscription fees to help improve this game that you like who don't /want/ to listen to the story.

Of the ~30 people or so who I am well acquainted with in this game, 1 or 2 don't click through all of the flat and boring writing while doing the MSQ in this game.

Some of us just want to punch dragons, and this is the best game to do it in. Why does it bother you that we don't care about your story? We let you do you, so let us do us.

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You're playing a story-centric MMO. If all you want to do is punch dragons then I'm sorry but you came to the wrong place. It doesn't bother me in the slightest that you don't enjoy the story, but it does bother me that you want to hack the story up to play the game your way rather than the way the game was designed.

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Originally Posted by Rendecrow

There is a big difference between the "plot" and what is practical for the players. For instance if you really wanted to make everything realistic then every time you die you should reroll a new toon. Also we have teleportation everywhere but in the "plot" characters constantly talk about travel time? Makes no sense. Just some food for thought....

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If we were doing that Au ra would be gated as well because of the events in the main story, they would either change some lines of dialog to make sense or just file it under those other things you said like teleporting, character age VS in game time that has passed, raising dead people.

But on topic I don't think it will be too much of an issue if the quest density for lvling is that much, we will obviously need more xp per lvl, and just add xp to those quests. You already have to do them in order, if they add progressively higher xp amounts to the 2.1-2.55 story it doesn't really matter what lvl the quest is listed at.

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Originally Posted by Alberel

The problem is though, even if a player can access these areas prior to completion of the 2.55 story quests they won't be able to do much there due to the dungeons and flying being gated behind the 3.0 main scenario quests. The onyl thing they'll be able to do is grind fates on whatever small sections of the map are accessible without a flying mount.

This is what people are trying to explain to the OP. The way content gating and character progression is designed in this game has everything tied into the main story. Allowing players to skip any previous main story quests would leave them without access to important gameplay features and content. Allowing them access to 3.0 areas without having the 3.0 main story quests available would leave them unable to progress in those areas. Even if the OP's suggestion were implemented in some fashion, new players would STILL have to complete all of the story quests anyway in order to unlock access to other things.

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Thats not entirely true though. I dont know why anyone would want to play a game like this and skip everything but its possible to make a new character and do none of the main story once outside of the starting instance. You can even choose to walk everywhere instead of unlocking teleport. Most sidequests are only gated by lvl so you can do them and fates to 50. You can even get to/from limsa without unlocking the airship by using a fc house aetheryte (Ive done this with alts).

I pretty much agree with you and think OP is over reacting and white knighting players hes never met but I dont think the entire expansion is gated, even if it makes no sense to struggle in new areas, some want to explore on day 1 and I think thats the general disappointment we are hearing. I for one will play ALL of it and love it lol.

This one reason why I avoided games that you are force to do quest to level/progress in the story. Now that I am here, I just have to deal with it. Why would Dev needs to change how the game works for a few players.

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Originally Posted by Peachy

Thats not entirely true though. I dont know why anyone would want to play a game like this and skip everything but its possible to make a new character and do none of the main story once outside of the starting instance. You can even choose to walk everywhere instead of unlocking teleport. Most sidequests are only gated by lvl so you can do them and fates to 50. You can even get to/from limsa without unlocking the airship by using a fc house aetheryte (Ive done this with alts).

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And what content beside a handfull sidequests and FATEs are accessable at 50 if you skip all mainstory quests?

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Originally Posted by Felis

And what content beside a handfull sidequests and FATEs are accessable at 50 if you skip all mainstory quests?

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Nothing! :D But that is the beauty of it!

If those zones were open before 2.55, then the people grinding 2.0 to 2.55 are going to feel less confined and controlled! Even though they are doing the story quests they will be in a better mood because they will feel like they have a choice instead of simply being forced to grind level 50 content. It's a human nature / psychological element that I think people are missing about the issue of the current gating design! Right now the gate could make some new players (or returning old players) feel negative and frustrated. Simply opening up those zones makes people feel more positive even though they still got to do the hundred or so level 50 quests to do anything relevant in those zones.

Does that make any sense? Or am I just way off? lol

I don't mind it at all and honestly this question IMO is the same as "can I play the expansion without the original game?" No you cannot. I personally don't know of any final fantasy game where the entire bulk of content was open from the start and I don't understand why this needs to be any different. You may disagree and that's fine but it seems practical and I like the way it's setup.

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Originally Posted by Dante_V

I don't mind it at all and honestly this question IMO is the same as "can I play the expansion without the original game?" No you cannot. I personally don't know of any final fantasy game where the entire bulk of content was open from the start and I don't understand why this needs to be any different. You may disagree and that's fine but it seems practical and I like the way it's setup.

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It comes down to pacing and story flow. I think the level 50 stuff, if left how it is, will make a bottleneck that does not flow well into the new expansion. I'm all for the story quest, but it just has to much at level 50. 1.4% of story quests on average every level until 49 and then 30% of the story at level 50 does not flow well into level 51 content. That is my issue.

Well honestly, if they are a "new" player they will probably be happy to do the storyline quests since they will continue to give you xp, that most of us did not get since we were already level capped. They've already said there will not be a level cap unlock quest. You'll just automatically be uncapped when expansion hits. By the time you hit 50 and do Preatorium, and do the rest of the quests up to the end of 2.55, you'll probably be at least 52.